PREMIUM
Rogers' Afternoon ASSAULT >> 2-0 MLB SWEEP Friday!
(MLB) Boston vs. Minnesota,
Money Line: -151.00 Boston (Away)
Result: Win
Money Line: -151.00 Boston (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Minnesota Twins enter the first weekend of May in first place in the American League Central at 15-12. That's quite an improvement from last year's 59-103 record, as the Twins finished in last-place for the fourth time in the last six seasons. They will host the Red Sox in this second of a three-game series this afternoon, after winning Friday night's game 4-3 on Joe Mauer's walk-off HR (surprisingly, the first of his career). With the loss, Boston fell to 4-7 on the road and 15-14, overall. The Red Sox really miss es Ortiz, as last year's team led all of MLB in team BA (.282) and runs scored (5.42 per game). The 2017 Red Sox come in batting .266 and more concerning, are scoring only 3.79 RPG to rank 26th of 30 teams!
The pitching matchup: Rick Porcello (1-4 & 4.46 ERA) will get the nod for Boston and Nick Tepesch (NR) gets the start for Minnesota. Porcello is off a 2016 season in which he won the AL's Cy Young, going 22-4 with a 3.15 ERA (team was 25-8, plus-$1470 to rank 3rd-best in all his starts). However, he has already matched his 2016 loss total, although a lack run support has been a contributing factor. He's only had one bad start (allowed eight ERs in 4 1/3 innings April 14th vs. the Rays), as he has allowed just four ERs in his three starts since that outing over 19 2/3 innings (1.83 ERA) but each start has ended in a loss. Porcello is 9-9 with 3.94 ERA in 27 career starts against the Twins, with his teams going 13-14. Nick Tepesch spent time in four different organizations in 2016 while combining to go 8-4 with a 3.96 ERA, all at the Triple-A level. He went 1-1 with a 2.00 mark with 17 strikeouts in 18 innings through three starts to begin this season for Triple-A Rochester and makes his Minnesota debut in the majors this afternoon. He has never faced Boston but is 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA in two previous starts at Target Field.
The pick: Tepesch was originally drafted out of high school by the Red Sox before choosing to attend the University of Missouri, He has appeared in 43 career major league games, making 40 starts, with a 9-18 record and 4.68 ERA. He started his career in Texas, where he saw time in the majors in 2013 and 2014. He made his way back in 2016 for Los Angeles and that's where he made his most recent start in the "bigs," back on June 24, 2016, Boston has struggled at the plate but Tepesch could be "just what the doctor ordered." As for Porcello, he's pitched well without any luck over his last three turns and is overdue for some help. Make Boston an 8* play.
The pitching matchup: Rick Porcello (1-4 & 4.46 ERA) will get the nod for Boston and Nick Tepesch (NR) gets the start for Minnesota. Porcello is off a 2016 season in which he won the AL's Cy Young, going 22-4 with a 3.15 ERA (team was 25-8, plus-$1470 to rank 3rd-best in all his starts). However, he has already matched his 2016 loss total, although a lack run support has been a contributing factor. He's only had one bad start (allowed eight ERs in 4 1/3 innings April 14th vs. the Rays), as he has allowed just four ERs in his three starts since that outing over 19 2/3 innings (1.83 ERA) but each start has ended in a loss. Porcello is 9-9 with 3.94 ERA in 27 career starts against the Twins, with his teams going 13-14. Nick Tepesch spent time in four different organizations in 2016 while combining to go 8-4 with a 3.96 ERA, all at the Triple-A level. He went 1-1 with a 2.00 mark with 17 strikeouts in 18 innings through three starts to begin this season for Triple-A Rochester and makes his Minnesota debut in the majors this afternoon. He has never faced Boston but is 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA in two previous starts at Target Field.
The pick: Tepesch was originally drafted out of high school by the Red Sox before choosing to attend the University of Missouri, He has appeared in 43 career major league games, making 40 starts, with a 9-18 record and 4.68 ERA. He started his career in Texas, where he saw time in the majors in 2013 and 2014. He made his way back in 2016 for Los Angeles and that's where he made his most recent start in the "bigs," back on June 24, 2016, Boston has struggled at the plate but Tepesch could be "just what the doctor ordered." As for Porcello, he's pitched well without any luck over his last three turns and is overdue for some help. Make Boston an 8* play.
